Venus In Furs
The Velvet Underground & Nico Lyrics

Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
A descriptive phrase for the appearance of a certain type of boots

Whiplash girlchild in the dark
A girl who is experiencing oppression, as if she is being whipped

Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him
The girl is obediently submitting to the authority of her mistress and should not be abandoned

Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
It appears to be a form of BDSM play in which a mistress takes control of her submissive and his emotions

Downy sins of streetlight fancies
The seductive and tempting nature of sin that can occur in the shadows of a city

Chase the costumes she shall wear
Pursuing the image of what someone might look like when they are wearing certain clothing

Ermine furs adorn the imperious
The clothing of those in power, such as the ermine furs worn by royalty

Severin, Severin awaits you there
The submissive boy is waiting for his dominant to arrive and assume control

I am tired, I am weary
The artist is expressing fatigue and exhaustion

I could sleep for a thousand years
A hyperbolic statement about how long the artist would like to rest

A thousand dreams that would awake me
Despite resting for a long time, the singer believes they would still have vivid dreams

Different colors made of tears
The artist's tears represent a variety of emotions

Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
A submissive act of worship towards a dominant partner

Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Refers to a sexual act that involves the use of a belt as an instrument of pain or pleasure

Severin, Severin, speak so slightly
The submissive boy speaks softly in respect to his dominant partner

Severin, down on your bended knee
The submissive boy is physically expressing his subservience

Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
A sexual act that involves the use of a whip as an instrument of pain or pleasure

Taste the whip, now plead for me
The singer is instructing the submissive boy to beg for their pleasure

Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don't forsake him
The submissive boy arrives as instructed, wearing bells to alert his dominant partner of his presence

Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
The theme of BDSM play continues throughout the song, with the submissive boy seeking emotional relief through physical acts performed by his dominant partner